Episode 5. Really, REALLY fucking good, best episode so far. The family drama and the creepy mystery of Alastor, masterfully done! FINALLY, they wrote Charlie well!

But again… I really wish the writing quality was consistent. The pilot and episode 1, in retrospect, are so badly handled in comparison, that I totally get why someone wouldn’t continue the show. (I also argue the world building is still… kinda weak, but that’s a topic for another time)

And I happen to be aware that one particular tasteless moment (though I don’t know the details) is coming in episode 6, so… gotta be prepared.

@artemis It’s also just not a fun environment. Yeah, I get that that’s the point, but that doesn’t make it any more appealing to me.

The asylum, on the other hand, was better designed and more fun to explore. Partially because it felt like every room had a historical lore significance, like you were in a museum. Didn’t always contribute to the plot, but still gave a sense of “this is why the place has become like this.” It was a fascinating bit of world building in a story-focused game.

@artemis I think that’s the key.

While Asylum does allow you to backtrack (admittedly it doesn’t do this the best, or make it obvious that you can, but that doesn’t bother me much), the way it’s presented makes you really feel like you ARE Batman, and it keeps you as focused as Batman would be. You’re doing things that are helping the story progress.

In City, while there is a story, it doesn’t flow. It doesn’t… have direction. That’s fine for many sandbox games, but a story like Arkham Asylum or even City, doesn’t fit well with that kind of game. Batman wouldn’t wander around aimlessly, he’d be hyper focused and to the point. And yeah, it definitely felt like they were desperate to keep certain elements present that easily could’ve been cut.

@artemis I don’t know what it was, but…

For some reason, I prefer Asylum while everyone else liked City. I think it was because the latter felt more like they were chasing the whole GTA feel, while the first was more focused on the story and characters? Idk.

Shockingly, this episode has the best writing of the whole show so far. Good development for not one but two characters, and two songs that are actually good!

Husk is definitely my favorite character. Not just because he’s voiced by Keith David, though that absolutely helps! He’s the most relatable, reacts in understandable ways to everyone’s bullshit, AND he has a side of him that proves Charlie’s point/the point the show clearly wants to make (if badly). And this episode is great for Angel’s character too, finally showing why he acts the way he does and giving him someone he can finally relate to.

Ok, it’s definitely better when it gets past that. Like, WAY better.

Why do the most interesting characters and plot lines keep coming after the first episodes in Vivziepop’s shows? Carmilla and Zestial are INFINITELY more interesting than anyone in the main story… except for Alastor. And Husk, the only one who can’t stand everyone’s bullshit, lol.

Starting episode 3, and… right off the bat, it’s not looking good.

Charlie’s excited about rehabilitation for her first guest in the previous episode. But Vaggie makes it clear that they gotta make some changes, including saying goodbye to his evil henchman. (Why he’s upset to get rid of them when he clearly never liked them, I… oh whatever.) So, this drastic a change, he starts crying about.

How does Charlie react? … with an awkward look and even more awkward pat on the back, like she doesn’t get it.

Like… huh!? What happened to the empathy and understanding we saw in the previous episode, especially at the end of the last one? Did you really have her go against her character just for the sake of a gag—oh wait, I guess you do have a habit of doing that. *glares at Helluva Boss’s worst episode*

It’s a small moment, yeah, but… my writing/directing brain sees this as wrong. I’d think she, of all people, would be more understanding of him struggling with having to make this big change and say goodbye to certain things and people? That she’d offer kindness and encouragement instead of reacting that way?

@KaylinEvergreen I love Garrus and think it’s a great romance… but it seems like they REALLY rushed and minimized his scenes in 2.

@KaylinEvergreen Fair. Sadly, the Tali romance didn’t allow for girl Shep. That would’ve been amazing.

@KaylinEvergreen Was mostly just talking about how well this particular romance was written. And how much I love Tali, heh.

Trying to take my mind off things. Thinking back to Tali’s romance in Mass Effect 2. Probably my favorite romance of all.

In the first game, if being paragon—or at least, good to her—they do a great job of creating a solid friendship between her and Shepard. There are even one or two lines that could be interpreted as Shepard feeling something for her too. “I’m gonna miss you when you go back to your people, Tali.”

In 2, she’s the first of the old crew to see Shepard again. She has to contain her amazement because of the situation, but it’s clear that she’s overjoyed, even with him being with Cerberus. To the latter, she feels scared they’re going to hurt him the moment they see him as “served his purpose.” She wants to protect him.

And her personal mission, Shepard is going out of his way to help her. Passionately standing up for her to an entire council, being there for her as she grieves her father and tries to figure out whether to protect his secrets or her status with her fleet/family.

And when she confesses her feelings, how she’s watched him for so long, never thinking he’d ever see past her suit, there’s a genuine danger at play. She doesn’t want to possibly die, and she cares so much for Shepard that she doesn’t want him to worry about that either. When Shepard tells her he’ll do anything for her, to make this work, and when he finally gets to see her face in private…

Gods I love this pairing so much. I love Tali so much, too.

@JetPhox *huuuuuugs* So happy to have you here, dear friend. ❤️❤️❤️

*approaches @tabitha , this time not for fetishy stuff, but to lay against her and snuggle into her soft, fluffy body*

Can… can I stay here for a while and not have to think of certain things troubling me? ;.;